8 Young Ladies You Should Know From 2018’s Le Bal Des Débutantes

From the daughter of an Oscar award winner to the heiress of Huawei

By
Melissa Twig on Dec 04, 2018

Under the gilt mirrors and ornate Louis XIV staircases of the Shangri-La palace hotel in Paris, some of the world’s most beautiful young women gathered together last night for the annual couture-fest otherwise known as the Le Bal Des Débutantes.

The glittering event is organised by chic French PR maven Ophelie Renouard and takes place in the old-world ballroom of the Shangri-La Paris. Renouard donates the night’s entire proceedings to two charities: the New York City-based Seleni Institute, which supports the reproductive and mental health of teen mothers, and Enfants d'Asie, which promotes the education of young girls in Southeast Asia.

Debutante balls have been a fixture on the European social scene for centuries—traditionally a way for aristocratic girls to be presented to society and yes, to find a well-to-do husband.

But now it’s 2018, times have changed. These young women are the daughters of American film stars, Asian tycoons, British scientists, Indian jewellers—and a few French and Italians aristocrats. But one thing is for sure, none of them have marriage on their minds, with all of them far more passionate about their plans to shape the worlds of politics, law, theatre and art. Here are eight of the most noteworthy young women:

True Whitaker, USA

Photo: Jacovides Borde Moreau

Who is she: The daughter of Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker, True is wearing Jean Paul Gaultier—and had her dress fitting with Gaultier himself, who couldn’t believe how perfectly his creation fitted the young writing student. True lives in New York and while she once planned on following her famous father onto the silver screen, she’s decided her talents lie with filling the blank page, and is hoping for a career in journalism and creative writing. Her cavalier? Only the grandson of renowned French actor Jean Paul Belmondo—Giacomo Belmondo.

Overheard: “Dad and I are opening the dancing at tonight’s ball and dad is more worried than I am! He’s a brilliant actor but he’s not so confident about his dancing skills.”

Juliet Gordy, USA

Photo: Tiziano Da Silva

Who is she: It’s a case of career musical chairs here in Paris, as True’s childhood friend Juliet Gordy comes from one of America’s most influential music families—her grandfather Berry Gordy is a record producer who launched Motown superstars including Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. But Juliet wants to act, and she’s already well on her way with a role in a new Netflix series that starts filming next spring. For Le Bal, she wore an exquisite Elie Saab gown with a full princess skirt.

Overheard: “Paris is like a second home to me. I was baptised here and stayed here all the time as a child with my mom’s best friend, who is French—so doing the Bal feels like the perfect way to start my adult life of visiting Paris.”

Angel Lee, Hong Kong

Photo: Jacovides Borde Moreau

Who is she: The daughter of Robert Lee—an avid art collector with a keen eye for 18th-and 19th-century French and Italian pieces—HKU student, Angel, felt very at home among the priceless European artworks of the Shangri-La. Her mother, meanwhile, is the famous Hong Kong actress Iwanbeo Leung, and we can see where Angel got her style and beauty from. Last night she showed that off with aplomb in a Dorian Ho dress, while her cavalier was Eduoard Lanvin, from the French couture family.

Overheard: “Dad came with me to all my dress fittings, which was really lovely. He has strong opinions and so do I—but luckily when it came to this dress, we had the same opinion about how much we loved it.”

Julia McCaw, USA

Photo: Yunling Fang

Who is she: The daughter of telecommunications tycoon and AT&T founder Craig McCaw, Julia may be an all-American girl, but she already has a European je ne sais quoi about her. That’s because she is mid-way through a gap year living in the French capital, where she is sharing a Marais flat with fellow deb, Anna Pei and learning to cook at the Cordon Bleu. In her Giambattista Valli gown with Gregory Peck’s grandson on her arm, she also glittered like a 1930s film star.

Overheard: “I am having the most incredible time in Paris—I feel like I’ve grown up so much in a few short months, and I have made so many friends. There may be a few French boys on the scene too…”

Annabel Yao, China

Photo: Daniel Paik

Who is she: Her father started Huawei—the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world—but when Annabel is not attending Europe’s most glamorous parties, the young Harvard student is still deciding whether or not to join the family firm. Last night, she wore a gorgeous J Mendel number in pale pink on the arm of a Belgian prince.

Overheard: “The best part of the Bal is all the amazing women I’ve met—I know we’ll be friends forever after an experience like this.”

Baroness Ludmilla von Oppenheim, Germany

Photo: Vincent Bousserez

Who is she: With a name like that, you would expect Ludmilla to be rather grand—but while she may come from one of the world’s most famous banking families, the law student couldn’t be more delightful, lighting up any room with her easy-going smile. She wore a head-turning black and white Stephane Rolland gown that deserves a leading role in the next series of The Crown.

Overheard: “I’m so excited about all the new friends I’ve made from Le Bal, I love the fact there’s no competition between us, we’re all just delighted to have this experience together."

Countess Gabrielle de Pourtalès, France

Photo: Cyril Moreau

Who is she: Gabrielle’s family history is more than a little dramatic—her ancestors fled Paris in the French Revolution and took refuge in Luxembourg, where they still live. Happily, times have changed, and Gabrielle was educated in Paris—although she currently lives in Hong Kong, where she is helping promote wine from Bordeaux in the Fragrant Harbour.

Overheard: “Hong Kong is the most incredible city—I never want to leave. It has the most amazing energy. I’m obsessed with it!”

Elizabeth Starling Louis, USA

Photo: Tim Griffiths

Who is she: The granddaughter of the US ambassador to the UK, Elizabeth is now a citizen of the world—she looks like an all-American film-star but also speaks fluent French and grew up in London. Although at last night’s Bal, everyone remarked upon how reminiscent she was of a young Marylin Monroe in her structured Ralph & Russo gown in pale pink. Currently studying at Brown University, the young beauty celebrated the night with both her parents and her three siblings by her side.

Overheard: “I really do feel like a princess in this dress—I don’t want this evening to end. Although I’m also quite excited about going out to a club with the debs after the ball is over.”